e those papers.

His manner made our hero feel that the papers would not be safe in his
hands. If he gave them up he might never see them again, and without the
documents the claim on the land in California would fall flat.

"Did you hear what I said, Upton? I want you to let me see those papers,"
Slocum went on, after a second of intense silence.

"What do you mean by locking that door?" Jerry demanded of the elderly
assistant, without paying any attention to the real estate dealer's
words.

Casey made no response. Instead, he took his stand by his employer's side,
as if awaiting further orders.

"You act as if you were afraid of me," sneered Slocum. "I won't hurt
you."

"You won't--not if I can help it," answered Jerry. "But I want you to
unlock that door. I am not to be treated as a prisoner."

"I only wanted to secure us against interruption. So many agents come up
here, and they are a regular nuisance."

Slocum advanced and held out his hand, as if expecting Jerry would drop
the precious papers into it. Instead, the boy retreated and took up a
position behind a flat-top desk in the centre of the office.

At this the real estate dealer grew furious behind his well-waxed
mustache. He had expected to intimidate our hero easily, and now he was
nonplused.

"Are you going to let me see those papers?" he fumed.

"No; at least not now."

"Why not?"

"I prefer not to answer that question."

"You think you have a case against me--that you can place me in a tight
hole."

"Well, if all is straight you have nothing to fear."

"Don't preach to me, boy. All is straight. I lost my money as well as the
others did."

"This doesn't look as if you had lost much," ventured Jerry, as he glanced
about the elegant apartment.

"Oh, I have made money since, in a lucky real estate deal in Brooklyn. I
won't keep your papers."

"I want that door unlocked."

Slocum muttered something under his breath, and his face grew suddenly
red. Like a flash he placed his hands on the flat desk and leaped over
it.

"I'll bring you to terms, you young country fool!" he cried, and made a
clutch for Jerry's collar.

Had our hero not turned like a flash he would have had the lad. But Jerry
was on guard and fled to the office door. Raising his foot he gave the
barrier a kick that caused it to crack heavily.

"Stop that!"

"I won't. Let me out, or I'll kick the door down."

"Casey, catch the young rascal!" cried Slocum. "I'm goi